IL-22 deficient animals display increased AHR and airway inflammation.

<p>Airway resistance (panel A) and dynamic compliance (panel B) in challenged only wild-type (IL-22^+/+ chall, n = 12), challenged only IL-22 deficient (IL-22^−/− chall, n = 12), sensitized and challenged wild-type (IL-22^+/+ sens/chall, n = 13) and sensitized and challenged IL-22 deficient (IL-22^−/− sens/chall, n = 13) mice. Results are expressed as mean±SEM from 2 independent experiments. # p<0.01, *p<0.05. Panel C shows differential cell counts for eosinophils in BAL fluid. Each dot represents a single mouse, bar represents mean. # p<0.05 compared to IL-22^+/+ chall and IL-22^−/− chall; * p<0.05 compared to all other groups. N.D.: not detectable. Panel D: Tissue inflammation was evaluated 48 hrs following the last challenge using hematoxylin and eosin staining (HE) and PAS staining for goblet cells in challenged only wild-type mice (IL-22^+/+ chall), sensitized and challenge wild-type mice (IL-22^+/+ sens/chall), challenged only IL-22 deficient mice (IL-22^−/− chall) and sensitized and challenged IL-22 deficient (IL-22^−/− sens/chall). Final magnifications 100× and 400× for inserts. Panel E shows histology score and panel F number of goblet cells per mm of basement membrane for challenged only (c) and sensitized and challenged (s/c) wild-type (IL-22^+/+) and IL-22 deficient (IL-22^−/−) animals. Each groups contains 12 animals. Means±SEM are given. *p<0.01 compared to IL-22^+/+ c and IL-22^−/− c. # p<0.05 compared to all other groups.